Phrase lesson
How do you say "Where do you live?" in Japanese?
Where do you live?
Answer
Two layers, same practical line
どこにすんでいますか
どこ に / すんでいますか
doko ni / sunde imasu ka
Lesson body
Phrase breakdown and usage notes
Quick use
Use どこにすんでいますか (doko ni sunde imasu ka) when you want to ask where someone lives. It is a common small-talk question, but it can feel a little personal depending on the situation.
Chunk or pattern
- Question chunk:
どこ に / すんでいますか - Reusable pattern:
〜 に / すんでいます - Useful answer examples:
とうきょうにすんでいます,しぶやにすんでいます.
Core words
どこ: where.すんでいます: live / am living.
Helper words and endings
に: points to the place where someone lives.ますか: makes it a polite question.
Practical note
If you do not know the person well, asking a broader version like どのへんにすんでいますか can feel softer than asking for an exact place.
Keep going
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